A great review for Howard Hampton's Born in Flames: Termite Dreams, Dialectical Fairy Tales, and Pop Apocalypses in Time Out New York this week:
But, like his forefather Manny Farber, the author never substitutes cleverness for incisiveness; reading Born In Flames' alternate history of the late 20th century’s zeitgeist isn’t just exhilarating but illuminating. Describing an anthology of fellow netherworld traveler Lester Bang’s articles, Hampton praises a "book that could make a person want to become a critic, or remind one why he became a critic in the first place." I know what you mean, sir. I’m holding just such a volume in my hands.
Also, don't miss Hampton's most recent blog entry at Powell's.com. Discussed: Pan's Labyrinth, the new film from Mexican-born director Guillermo del Toro.
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